Form in Motion
I found Judith Wrend's work while researching mobiles, but what really grabbed my eye are her sculptures and wall-hanging works. One pretty much expects color, playfulness and an exquisite sense of balance from artists working in kinetic sculpture— it's just part of the genre. With over thirty years of focus on kinetic work, Judith has certainly got those basics down cold. What sets her apart from most of the post-Calder crowd is a flair for composition. Her linear elements do more than just hold planes in space, as so often happens with mobiles. She incorporates line as an integral gesture, signaling motion even in static work. While some of her work falls into the category of pure abstraction derived from the play of balanced forces of motion, the most interesting pieces are those which readily display her fascination with forms as they occur in the natural environment.
Judith Wrend Studio
Rarely do I go to Chicago without visiting the Ann Nathan Gallery to see Jim Rose's newest works. Simple, solid, and highly functional, Rose's hand-crafted steel furniture is designed to last through decades of daily use, just as the Shaker originals which have been his inspiration since his first show in 1996. The natural patina of his salvaged materials closely resembles the tone and texture of antique wood and is achieved by wire brushing the scrap steel and applying a protective wax finish. From a distance, one could easily be fooled into believing the work was in fact a classic antique. Up close, the genius of using burnished steel to recreate these masterpieces of spare design becomes apparent in the depth of the finish and the perfection of each plane.